Wednesday, 4 March 2026

 Kim O’KEEFFE (Shepparton) (10:24): I recently met with local disability service providers from the health and community services and independent living sector. Peter, Marianne, Martin and Abu raised their concerns regarding the independent living funding shortfall between the state and federal governments that is having a significant impact on people with disabilities, their families and workers. On 1 January this year the Allan Labor government brutally cut transition funding without any resolution, leaving many residents and families in limbo, with homes at imminent risk of closure. Hearing firsthand the distress of this decision that the government has caused for people who depend on specialised in-house care, as well as the uncertainty for the families with loved ones living with a disability, was truly devastating.

The caring representatives that came to my office clearly feel overwhelmed, and the level of their concerns and despair is hard to put into words. As Peter pointed out, often the families do not have anyone else to support their family member with a disability. The certainty of safe, specialised and suitable stable housing for their loved ones has been pulled out from beneath them. It is unacceptable that the minister responsible for this portfolio has refused to meet with impacted organisations or step in and intervene despite 2000 Victorians with profound disabilities having their supported independent living homes threatened with closure. It is hard to fathom that people with disabilities are at risk of losing their homes while this government has lost $15 billion on criminal rorts – taxpayers money that should have benefited Victorians to keep these houses open and not gone to criminal activity.